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How To Get A Business Phone Number & The Best Providers
In order to succeed in today’s business world, you need a dedicated business phone number. Whether your business is small or large, the right phone system can create more credibility for you while also helping you work more effectively. From local and toll-free numbers to VoIP, choosing the best solution depends on your specific needs.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about business numbers, including how to get one, types, benefits, and best practices to help your business stay connected. We’re located in Atlanta but we serve the entire US with VoIP and business internet services including Los Angeles, Memphis, Houston, and Miami.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Wifi Calling
How to Get a Business Phone Number
Getting a business phone number is easy and can be done in several ways, depending on your needs and budget. First, you’ll need to decide what type of business phone number you need. Are you expanding overseas? You’ll need an international business phone number that lets you connect with locals. Do you want customers nationwide to be able to reach you? A toll-free number may be best.
Next, consider what type of carrier you need. While traditional landline service was the gold standard for business phone numbers in the past, today, you have more options. Choose from VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), traditional landline, virtual numbers, and more. Once you decide on a provider, you can set up your business number and start communicating.
Best Business Phone Number Providers
There are a lot of business phone number providers on the market, but they’re not all made equally. To help you in your search, here are some of the top providers we recommend.
Nextiva
Our number one pick is Nextiva. It’s a feature-rich VoIP system with unlimited calling, video conferencing, and team messaging. You can opt for local numbers, toll-free numbers, and vanity numbers. Plus, if you have an existing business number, Nextiva offers free number porting.
Nextiva comes with tons of advanced features, like auto-attendant, call forwarding, call analytics, and more. It’s easy to scale as your business needs change, and works on desktop, mobile, and desk phones.
Nextiva is best for:
- Small to large businesses needing a complete VoIP phone system.
- Companies looking for a professional and scalable phone service.
RingCentral
RingCentral is one of the top providers of business phone numbers for a number of reasons. Like Nextiva, it offers full-featured VoIP service, with voice calls, video meetings, and team messaging. Choose from local, vanity, toll-free, and even some international phone numbers. You can also port your current number to RingCentral for free.
Some of RingCentral’s top features include AI-powered voicemail transcription and call analytics, advanced call routing, IVR, and integration with tools like Salesforce, Teams, and Slack.
RingCentral is best for:
- Large businesses, enterprises, and call centers needing an advanced phone system.
- Companies with remote teams that need strong collaboration tools.
Grasshopper
If your business phone number needs are small and straightforward, Grasshopper is a great option to consider. With Grasshopper, you get a business phone number that works on your existing phone. This allows you to keep your personal number separate from your work number to maintain privacy. Plus, you can choose between local, vanity, or toll-free numbers, and number porting is free.
Grasshopper has fewer features than providers like Nextiva, but the ones it offers can help you create a professional image. Some of these features include multiple extensions, voicemail-to-email, custom greetings, call forwarding, and more.
Grasshopper is best for:
- Small business owners, freelancers, and startups needing a professional phone number.
- Businesses that want a second business number on their personal phone.
Google Voice
Google Voice is another business phone number provider that offers simple, affordable service. While there is a free plan, it’s pretty limited. The paid plans offer lots more. Google Voice is an especially great choice for companies that are already using Google Workspace.
Some of the best features of Google Voice Unlimited include calls to the US and Canada, unlimited texting in the US, voicemail transcription, call forwarding, ring groups, and more.
Google Voice is best for:
- Small businesses or solo entrepreneurs looking for a free or low-cost solution.
- Businesses that are already using Google Workspace.
How to Find the Right Business Phone Number Provider
Finding the right business phone number provider for your business is essential. There are tons of providers on the market, and sorting through all of them can seem overwhelming. Here are some steps to take to find the right provider for you:
- Identify your business needs: Before you choose a provider, make sure you know what you need from a business phone number. Do you want a number with a local area code, or do you need a nationwide toll-free number? Will you need extensions or additional numbers for different employees or departments? Do you want a number that allows customers to text your business? Do you need to make or receive calls from outside the US? With your needs defined, you can look for a provider that closely matches them.
- Determine your budget: Whether you’re a small business or an expanding enterprise, you can find a provider in your budget. Knowing how much you can afford to pay and what features are essential for your organization will help you narrow down your options.
- Compare business phone number providers: Gone are the days when your only choice is between two or three landline providers. Today, you can choose between traditional carriers, VoIP providers, and virtual number apps. Check pricing and contract terms. Some providers have hidden fees, like setup costs or extra charges for voicemail. Make sure you understand what you’re paying for.
- Read reviews: One of the best ways to find the right provider is to read reviews. Sites like Trustpilot, G2, or Capterra provide detailed reviews from real clients. Check out scores for customer service, user interface, and other essential features.
Types of Business Phone Numbers
There are a number of business phone number types to choose from. The right one depends on your needs, branding, and customer reach. Here are the main types:
Local
Local business phone numbers start with the area code of a local region or city, but you don’t have to have a physical brick-and-mortar location to obtain one. For example, you can be located out of California while operating a 303 number for Denver customers. This allows you to build trust with the local clientele.
Local business phone numbers are best for local businesses, service-based companies like painters and plumbers, and businesses looking to break into a local market.
Toll Free
Toll-free numbers allow your customers to call you without incurring long-distance charges. They help your business create a professional image and reach customers nationwide.
Toll-free numbers are best for businesses serving customers across multiple locations and customer service hotlines.
Vanity
A vanity number is a custom number that spells out a word, such as 1-800-PAINTING or 1-888-FIX-ROOF. They’re easy for your customers to remember and can be either local or toll-free.
Vanity numbers are best for branding, advertising, and businesses with a memorable service.
International
If your business operates out of the US but reaches customers globally, an international phone number is a great option. It allows you to have a local presence in other countries where your customers can call you without paying international fees.
International numbers are best for businesses with a large, global reach or that are looking to break into international markets.
Direct Inward Dialing Numbers
Direct inward dialing (DID) numbers are a feature of some phone systems that allows businesses to assign individual phone numbers to different employees or departments. This allows callers to reach the right person directly instead of going through the company’s main menu.
When choosing DID numbers, you purchase a block of numbers from your VoIP or telecom provider. The numbers are routed through the system, allowing calls to bypass the auto-attendant. DID numbers are best for businesses that have multiple departments and remote/hybrid teams.
Top Features Included with Business Phone Number Plans
Along with your business phone number, most business telecom providers offer a number of advanced features. When choosing a plan, you’ll want to watch out for some of these key features:
- Call management: Features like call forwarding, call routing, call transfer, and call queuing help you manage incoming calls efficiently.
- Auto-attendant: An auto-attendant or virtual receptionist greets customers with a prerecorded message, offering a menu that guides callers to the right person (such as “Press 1 for sales, 2 for support”).
- Business texting: Send and receive texts from your business number to reach clients on their preferred channel.
- Softphones: Use your smartphone or desktop to make and receive calls.
- Automatic call recording: Record all phone calls automatically for compliance and training purposes.
- Voicemail transcription: Voicemails are automatically transcribed and sent to your email so you can review them quickly.
- Video conferencing: Meet with team members and clients online.
Benefits of Business Phone Numbers
Whether your business is large or small, a dedicated number will help you establish your credibility and keep your personal calls separate from business calls. Here are some of the top benefits of business phone numbers:
- Build credibility: Having a dedicated business phone number helps you build credibility with your potential clients. Customers take businesses more seriously with a business phone number, professional voicemail greeting, and branded caller ID.
- Protect privacy: Keep your personal and business calls separate with a business phone number. No need to give out your private number. You can set business hours so calls go to voicemail after hours.
- Improve communication: Having a business phone number comes with more than just the professional number. You get tons of advanced features, like call forwarding, auto-attendant, and business texting to improve communication with your customers.
- Expand your reach: With local and international numbers, you can expand your business reach beyond your physical location.
Best Practices
A well-managed business phone number can improve customer communication and help you streamline your operations. Here are some of the best practices to follow to get the most out of your business number:
- Choose the right type of business phone number. A local number builds trust with customers in your service area while a toll-free number can help you reach customers nationwide. If you’re looking to improve your branding, a vanity number is a great way to help your customers remember your number.
- Use dedicated phone numbers for different departments, like sales, customer service, and billing. Set up an auto-attendant for each number so customers can get to the right department from the start.
- Utilize call-handling features like call forwarding, call routing, voicemail-to-email transcription, and call queuing to manage your incoming calls.
- Monitor call performance with call analytics. Track missed calls, call duration, and peak call times. Record calls for quality assurance and gather customer feedback. Use these insights to take data-driven steps to improve service.
How to Get a Business Phone Number Conclusion
Business phone numbers are more than just a way for customers to reach you. They provide you with credibility, advanced features, and a way to reach local customers. However, finding the right provider can be tricky.
That’s where OneStop Communications comes in. We’ll help you compare pricing and plans so you can find the provider that meets your specific business needs. Contact us today to see how we can help you with all your business telecom needs.
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